The 2024 election cycle has been unprecedented for numerous reasons: the incumbent president dropped his party’s nomination due to relentless internal pressure regarding his age, multiple attempted assassinations on a former president already weighed down by legal indictments, and a relatively unknown candidate given the torch to reignite her dispirited party.
No matter which side of the aisle you sit on, the 2024 election has undoubtedly set unforeseen precedents, and the result of this chaos is one of the closest elections America has ever seen. With such a tight election, the vice presidential debate seems to hold more weight now than at any other time in modern American history.
The debate will be an opportunity for the candidates to redefine or double down on their ticket’s values, policies, and vision for a future America. With young people coming into specific focus in this election, gaining campus perspectives can provide valuable insight into the keys to victory for each party. Today, we will dive into what Vanderbilt students feel are the critical talking points surrounding the October 1 debate.
Historically, the vice president has taken a backseat to the head of the ticket, but, given the unique circumstances of this cycle, there seems to be much more emphasis on both JD Vance’s and Tim Walz’s roles within their respective ticket. Douglas Brinkley, presidential historian and professor of history at Rice University, said on MSNBC, “It’s going to be the most important vice presidential debate, I think, in U.S. history…” specifically referencing Vance’s role as the last chance Donald Trump has to regain and maintain momentum for the election in November. Interestingly, one person who disagrees with this assessment is former President Trump himself, saying to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) that “the vice president, in terms of the election, does not have any impact.” With these two perspectives in mind, I talked to the students of Vanderbilt to get their insights.
In what ways do you believe the unique circumstances of the 2024 election cycle have shifted people’s views on the VP selection for each party?
JD Vance and the Republicans: “Given Trump’s advanced age and the recent Democratic nominee switch to Kamala Harris, the VP pick is now more impactful to election results than ever. For Trump, choosing JD Vance means potentially securing the swing state of Ohio and reaching more voters from the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum, given Vance’s middle-class background. Additionally, with both candidates having high disapproval rates among voters, many prospective voters are now looking at the VP selection as a decisive factor in their final decision.” – Bao Le, Class of 2027
Tim Walz and the Democrats: “The circumstances in the 2024 debate have made me more aware of the VP candidates. With Kamala Harris stepping up, the race might be a lot tighter than previous years, so what the VP [candidates] are doing may be part of the deciding factors for people who aren’t sure which side to vote for.” – Sophia Rain, Class of 2027
With this seemingly increased importance on the vice presidential candidates from both sides of the aisle, it’s important to understand what the role for each candidate will be on October 1. With Kamala Harris being a relatively undefined candidate, only having about two months to define her campaign to the American people, and Donald Trump being all too familiar to voters across the country for the last eight years, both Tim Walz and JD Vance have a unique challenge laying ahead of them.
Tim Walz will have to define Vice President Harris’s candidacy to the American people, simultaneously championing the VP’s successes over the past four years and separating her from the stumbles of this administration. Meanwhile, JD Vance has to take an already defined candidate and persuade voters on the fence to “Make America Great Again” for the second time in eight years.
The way for both of these men to accomplish their objectives will be through policy. Many hard-hitting issues are on the ballot this election cycle, ranging from foreign policy — specifically America’s role in Gaza and Ukraine — the discussion of border security, the cost of living in America increasing, and protecting abortion rights, are just a sample of the variety of issues both candidates will have to contend with next Tuesday. As a result, it’s critical for both candidates’ success to control the conversation around the policies that favor their party. I asked Vanderbilt students what policies they want to see their prospective VP representing on the national stage.
What policy position would you like your candidate to advocate for in the VP debate?
JD Vance and the Republicans: “Data indicates that in Arizona and Pennsylvania, arguably the two most influential states in this election, border security emerges as the paramount issue. While Vance has had a relatively brief tenure in the Senate with limited involvement in border security matters, the ticket leader, Harris, serving as the border czar for the past four years with Walz supporting her border policies, presents a strategic opportunity for Vance. The most tactful approach Vance could adopt would be to emphasize the lapses in border control proposed by the Harris-Walz ticket.” – Griffin Unger, Class of 2027
Tim Walz and the Democrats: “I would argue that Tim Waltz should highlight abortion and recall his account with it because it will allow the voter population to sympathize with the importance of women’s rights and healthcare. Furthermore, JD Vance doesn’t have much contrary evidence to back his perspective on making abortion illegal. He wants to be a [typical] Republican party candidate [but he lacks any] original thoughts!” – Abdoulaye Charles, Class of 2027
Finally, the vice presidential debate presents an opportunity for each candidate to leave a lasting impact on the rest of the nation. With a second presidential debate in question, the vice presidential debate could be the last time these opposing tickets get to exchange their ideologies face-to-face before November decides the next four years of our country. As a result, voters nationwide will be looking for a lasting message they can carry with them to ballot boxes across the country. I asked Vanderbilt students how they would help the vice presidential candidates craft the message that most resonates with the American people.
What do you believe is the primary message each candidate should portray to the nation to benefit their party’s ticket in November?
JD Vance and the Republicans: “JD Vance needs to strictly focus on the record of the Trump administration and his success in the Senate and compare it to the issues he sees with the Biden-Harris administration and Governor Walz’s leadership in Minnesota. He needs to carefully present the case for why another Trump administration would be better for the American people than a continuation of Harris’s leadership, especially for people in the Midwest.” – Sam Bowell, Class of 2027
Tim Walz and the Democrats: “I would like to see Tim Walz emphasize how he will carry his policies and stances from Minnesota to the nation overall. I am happy with what he has accomplished in his home state, specifically working towards free school meals, universal gun background checks, addressing environmental issues, and furthering abortion rights. I would like to hear how he intends to use this experience to push for similar issues while holding the greater role of vice president.” – Ane Kirk-Jadric, Class of 2026
With the stakes of the 2024 election being higher than ever, the vice presidential debate promises to be another high point in this already electric election cycle. As the candidates gear up for October 1 and look to capture the attention of the country, the student perspectives shared above are an important reminder that voters, particularly young voters, are tuned in to the Vance-Walz debate. With more interest in the vice presidential debate than ever before, both candidates have a responsibility to represent their policies, approaches to governance, and a vision for a nation that excites students across the country to remain politically active beyond this election cycle.
